Hey! I am new to the southern Maryland area! I am looking into opening a in home day care. I have found tons of information bout doing this but, I can't find where it says how many children you can baby sit without having a license? I was just wondering if anyone here might know the answer! How many children can you watch without having a license and how old do you have to be to babysit! Thanks a ton! :howdy:

Mrs. Russell

Hey! I am new to the southern Maryland area! I am looking into opening a in home day care. I have found tons of information bout doing this but, I can't find where it says how many children you can baby sit without having a license? I was just wondering if anyone here might know the answer! How many children can you watch without having a license and how old do you have to be to babysit! Thanks a ton! :howdy:

Mrs. Russell

Call Child Care Administration in Leon or go to the networkofcare.org website

If you are babysitting even 1 kid in your own home without a license, you are most likely breaking the law :yay: (there is a limit on the number of hours you can babysit in your own home w/o a license per month...I believe it is 20 hours)
If you babysit in the child's home, then you can do it without a license :yay:

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If you are babysitting even 1 kid in your own home without a license, you are most likely breaking the law :yay: (there is a limit on the number of hours you can babysit in your own home w/o a license per month...I believe it is 20 hours)
If you babysit in the child's home, then you can do it without a license :yay:

Once again you are injecting your ignorance into a grownup tread. Idiot.

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Once again you are injecting your ignorance into a grownup tread. Idiot.
This time he's right.

To watch a child that is not related to you, in your home, in excess of 20 hours a month, you must be licensed.

Most you can watch is 8 at one time.

No more than 2 under the age of 2.

Do a search on Childcare Connection on here and you will find a link to the licensing agency.

This time he's right.

To watch a child that is not related to you, in your home, in excess of 20 hours a month, you must be licensed.

Most you can watch is 8 at one time.

No more than 2 under the age of 2.

Do a search on Childcare Connection on here and you will find a link to the licensing agency.

Actually, the most you can be approved for is 8. There's no guarantee that you'll be approved for that many. Things like house size, yard size, type of car you have, number of kids you have of your own, etc. all factor into the number of daycare kids you get approval for.

Speaking as a parent with kids in day-care, once your potential clients hear that you aren't licensed, they probably won't want you to be their day-care provider. I know I wouldn't.

Actually, the most you can be approved for is 8. There's no guarantee that you'll be approved for that many. Things like house size, yard size, type of car you have, number of kids you have of your own, etc. all factor into the number of daycare kids you get approval for.
As the husband of a licensed provider, I know that. However, I was trying to keep it simple. What I posted was acurate. No need to get into specifics with the OP on this when the rough brushstrokes of the rules will do for now.

Speaking as a parent with kids in day-care, once your potential clients hear that you aren't licensed, they probably won't want you to be their day-care provider. I know I wouldn't.

My children, ages 19 and 17 were cared for by a non-licensed sitter when the were younger. While I know this was awhile ago, and things have changed drastically, but just because a sitter is licensed doesn't mean they will treat your child any better. I would not have traded the sitter I had for anyone. My children were loved and cared for as if they were her own.

My children, ages 19 and 17 were cared for by a non-licensed sitter when the were younger. While I know this was awhile ago, and things have changed drastically, but just because a sitter is licensed doesn't mean they will treat your child any better. I would not have traded the sitter I had for anyone. My children were loved and cared for as if they were her own.
Just because they are licensed, or not, does not mean they will be better than any other person you choose to pay to watch your children. Having a license, or not, does not mean that you will not do a wonderful job of watching children. With that being said...

Here's my thoughts on licensed vs. unlicensed providers:
As easy as it is to get licensed, and as non-invasive as the process is to keep the license, why would somebody NOT want to be licensed? What are they hiding? There has GOT to be a reason somebody chooses to run an illegal (unlicensed) child care business. To me knowing they are licensed gives me a bit of piece of mind since they, and anyone living in the house over the age of 18, has been fingerprinted and background checked.

Legal definition of "babysitting" in Maryland is 1. caring for the child in the child's home. 2. Caring for a related child, regardless of location or 3. Caring for a child on an "occasional" basis, with "occasional" being defined as less than 20 hours per month.

You must be 13 years old to be a "babysitter" as defined by the above.

Now, sounds like what you want to be is a "Family Childcare Provider" which is caring for unrelated children in your home on more than an "occasional" basis.

In Maryland, even ONE child under these circumstances requires being registered with the State.

Region 10 - Southern Maryland Office (http://www.marylandpublicschools.org/MSDE/divisions/child_care/licensing_branch/licensing_office_south_md.htm)

1st Step - Attend Family Day Care Orientation. Family Day Care Orientations (http://www.marylandpublicschools.org/NR/rdonlyres/D5156985-2E3F-4767-BFEC-8AF12D376C2F/18481/2009_FDC_Orientations1.pdf) are held monthly at local libraries. There is no charge and you do not have to register to attend. Please be prompt, stay through the entire three-hour session, and do not bring children to the orientation. You will receive an application packet and an explanation of the application process. (Click the link in the quote for dates/times/locations)

My children, ages 19 and 17 were cared for by a non-licensed sitter when the were younger. While I know this was awhile ago, and things have changed drastically, but just because a sitter is licensed doesn't mean they will treat your child any better. I would not have traded the sitter I had for anyone. My children were loved and cared for as if they were her own.
There are good and bad people who are licensed and good and bad people who aren't, however, if you are not licensed, 1. You are breaking the law. What kind of an example is that to set for the children? 2. You could be subject to a fine. It's cheaper just to follow the law. 3. If your home owners insurance finds out about it, the will drop you faster than you can blink. 4. Should an accident happen to one of the children, the parent's will suddenly claim ignorance that what you were doing was illegal, they will claim all sorts of things were going on, that may or may not have been and since you never had a state inspection by an unbias 3rd party, it will be strictly your word against the word of the poor distraught parent with the injured child and you can kiss your house goodbye because the insurance dropped you and you can't afford the settlement when you lose the law suit.

Sorry forgot one....

5. If you are unlicensed, you cannot claim all the tax deductions available to child care providers on your state taxes (although you can still claim them on federal) and it could cost you a LOT of money in extra taxes.

Just because they are licensed, or not, does not mean they will be better than any other person you choose to pay to watch your children. Having a license, or not, does not mean that you will not do a wonderful job of watching children. With that being said...

Here's my thoughts on licensed vs. unlicensed providers:
As easy as it is to get licensed, and as non-invasive as the process is to keep the license, why would somebody NOT want to be licensed? What are they hiding? There has GOT to be a reason somebody chooses to run an illegal (unlicensed) child care business. To me knowing they are licensed gives me a bit of piece of mind since they, and anyone living in the house over the age of 18, has been fingerprinted and background checked.

Exactly. All other things being equal, I would think a responsible parent wouldn't even consider placing their children with an unlicensed provider. I saw a news piece a few years back where the focus was if I parent knowingly places their children in an unlicensed daycare and something happens to the child(ren), the parent could be in trouble along with the unlicensed provider. I think it fell into the area of child neglect.

Sorry forgot one....

5. If you are unlicensed, you cannot claim all the tax deductions available to child care providers on your state taxes (although you can still claim them on federal) and it could cost you a LOT of money in extra taxes.
And a parent cannot write off their childcare expenses if they use an unlicensed provider since they won't have a tax ID number.

Exactly. All other things being equal, I would think a responsible parent wouldn't even consider placing their children with an unlicensed provider. I saw a news piece a few years back where the focus was if I parent knowingly places their children in an unlicensed daycare and something happens to the child(ren), the parent could be in trouble along with the unlicensed provider. I think it fell into the area of child neglect.I believe you are correct, that's why I said, if something happens the parents will suddenly claim ignorance of the law...which given the huge differences from state to state on this subject, it is easily believable.

As a child care provider, I have interviewed parents who were in a custody dispute and one of the criteria looked at was the child care arrangements. The child was in an unlicensed care situation and the court saw that as evidence that the parent wasn't caring for the child properly and ordered them to find licensed care.

And a parent cannot write off their childcare expenses if they use an unlicensed provider since they won't have a tax ID number.Actually, they can still write it off for federal....the tax ID number in a sole proprietorship business can be the social security number (although with all the ID theft going around who'd want to do that).

The reason these things can be written off federal taxes, even though it's an illegal situation is that the rules are radically different from state to state and the fed rules need to be the same for everyone...

for example, in Virginia, it is legal to watch up to 5 children without a license. In Tennessee, you can't watch up to 8 kids. Some states base it on the number of families in care regardless of the number of children.

Actually, they can still write it off for federal....the tax ID number in a sole proprietorship business can be the social security number (although with all the ID theft going around who'd want to do that).

The reason these things can be written off federal taxes, even though it's an illegal situation is that the rules are radically different from state to state and the fed rules need to be the same for everyone...

for example, in Virginia, it is legal to watch up to 5 children without a license. In Tennessee, you can't watch up to 8 kids. Some states base it on the number of families in care regardless of the number of children.
OK, I am wrong. I can live with that.

Actually, they can still write it off for federal....the tax ID number in a sole proprietorship business can be the social security number (although with all the ID theft going around who'd want to do that).

The reason these things can be written off federal taxes, even though it's an illegal situation is that the rules are radically different from state to state and the fed rules need to be the same for everyone...

for example, in Virginia, it is legal to watch up to 5 children without a license. In Tennessee, you can't watch up to 8 kids. Some states base it on the number of families in care regardless of the number of children.


Back in the day... my children were not with licensed daycare providers and they were excellent people. My youngest had issues and had to be on an apnea monitor for 8 months. I couldn't find anyone to watch him..nobody wanted that responsibility except one woman who was willing to learn about his needs.

You could claim child care on the taxes back in the stone age too..all you needed was the SSN of the caregiver.

As far as setting a bad example for the kids by not being licensed, I doubt that many children are aware of what being licensed (or not) even means.

Does not really matter what anyone says. I'd be willing to be that this lady still opens an unlicensed daycare in her home.

Does not really matter what anyone says. I'd be willing to be that this lady still opens an unlicensed daycare in her home.


and with as hard as it is to find daycare for a reasonable price now and days I'm sure she won't even have problems finding kids to watch

and with as hard as it is to find daycare for a reasonable price now and days I'm sure she won't even have problems finding kids to watch

:yay:

I suppose it doesn't matter to me now but back then I chose by what they could provide for my child and their philosophy on care, etc. The license didn't matter much to me.

and with as hard as it is to find daycare for a reasonable price now and days I'm sure she won't even have problems finding kids to watch

You are probably correct. It was a PITA to find licensed care for my 3 little ones. Especially since at the time 2 of them were infants.

Another trailer park baby sitter. This is what's wrong with our kids today. Get certified or go home. Our kids mean allot to us these days and the new generation that has been raised up!!! I wouldn't leave my kids with any of them unless they were certified. Pack up your mobile home and go back where you came from.

Another trailer park baby sitter. This is what's wrong with our kids today. Get certified or go home. Our kids mean allot to us these days and the new generation that has been raised up!!! I wouldn't leave my kids with any of them unless they were certified. Pack up your mobile home and go back where you came from.


Judgemental much? Were we in VA, she wouldn't even need a license. Does that mean that those dayum Virginian kids are more screwed up then Maryland kids?

Back in the day... my children were not with licensed daycare providers and they were excellent people. My youngest had issues and had to be on an apnea monitor for 8 months. I couldn't find anyone to watch him..nobody wanted that responsibility except one woman who was willing to learn about his needs.

You could claim child care on the taxes back in the stone age too..all you needed was the SSN of the caregiver.

As far as setting a bad example for the kids by not being licensed, I doubt that many children are aware of what being licensed (or not) even means.My oldest was with an unlicensed provider for about 6 months. She was a wonderfully nice woman, mother of 4. She'd told me that she was in the process of getting licensed, she just hadn't finished the paperwork. She was conveniently located, experienced had a beautifully well-kept home and was willing to take an infant part-time for part-time pay, unlike most licensed providers.

I considered myself lucky to have her, that is until I started hearing things...

First it was that her daughter and another child that she was supposedly watching were at the playground unsupervised for several hours.

Then she told me herself about how much my son liked "Blue's Clues"...he was about 3-4 months old and the more she told me, the more I came to find out that all he did all day was sit in a bouncy seat in front of the TV.

Then she told me my son eating poptarts (he was about 7 mo old)

Little things, I know, and not issues limited to unlicensed care, but in retrospect, signs of bigger problems.

In all this time, she never did follow through on her licensing paperwork.

Then she dropped me with only a week's notice. This was in April. When tax time came around the following year, and I asked her about claiming my child care expenses on my taxes, she denied that she watched my kid that year, but he was there from Jan-Apr.

AFTER I left there, which to my shame, wasn't my decision, I started hearing more things from the neighbors, generally prefaced with "You aren't still taking your son to HER are you?"

She was spotted at the pool smacking her kid around. There were domestic violence calls to her house and turns out her husband had a criminal record for drugs and violence that would have prevented her from getting a child care license. No wonder she never followed through.

Fortunately, I have no reason to believe that my child was ever harmed, but then he was only there 6 months. What would have happened if he'd been there longer? I had no serious inkling that there was anything wrong in that household until well after my son left her care. Had it not been for the fact that she quit on me and the fact that she lived just around the corner and all the neighbors on my street knew me AND her both, I might have never known something was wrong unless/until something tragic happened.

Although some of these things could have been the case in a licensed child care home, a husband with a record of drugs and violence and a record of domestic disturbance calls are things you WON'T find in a licensed child care situation. Kids running up the street unsupervised...well, that might happen, but only until one of the neighbors calls the licensing agency, because that's an instant license suspension offense. Smacking her kid around in public is also something that might happen with a licensed provider...until one of the neighbors calls and reports her to CPS. Although smacking your own kids won't get a license suspended unless CPS files charges, it WILL prompt extra surprise visits from the licensing agency to make sure it was an isolated incident and there is no harm being done to the day care children.

Does not really matter what anyone says. I'd be willing to be that this lady still opens an unlicensed daycare in her home.Hey, she cared enough to ask, don't jump to conclusions.

I'm fairly close to the licensed daycare program and I've "heard" a lot of storeis. I know how some of the licensed sitters "cheat" and don't excactly follow the rules so having a license isn't always a sure way to know you won't have an issue.

I did my own pop-in inspections on my sitters.

There's good and bad in everything.

Hey, she cared enough to ask, don't jump to conclusions.


:debbiedowner:




:lol:

and with as hard as it is to find daycare for a reasonable price now and days I'm sure she won't even have problems finding kids to watchActually, when the economy tanked a few month back, a lot of people pulled their children out of child care. Those people who maybe had their kids in care even when they weren't working because they wanted a "break" or maybe they sent them off to grandma because they wanted to save money.

I've heard of several providers who have openings now because of this, me included....I happened to be on maternity leave when the economy tanked and haven't had a single client since....I've gotten very few calls and only done one interview in the last 7 months since baby was born.

Another trailer park baby sitter. This is what's wrong with our kids today. Get certified or go home. Our kids mean allot to us these days and the new generation that has been raised up!!! I wouldn't leave my kids with any of them unless they were certified. Pack up your mobile home and go back where you came from.Don't rag on the OP. I'll say again, she cared enough to find out what the law is, that's a big step in the right direction.

And I care enough about my kids to respond to this post. As times get worse there will be plenty of people trying to make extra money. Good or bad lets do it the right way. Let's mkae sure our kids are safe. Not saying anything can not happen. But we need to make smart choices. We think that will not happen to me, but when it does it is to late. Just think of the stories you heard this past year of kids dying in swimming pools and kids coming up missing. It is the truth. If you are certified they check the house to make sure it is acceptable.

I'm fairly close to the licensed daycare program and I've "heard" a lot of storeis. I know how some of the licensed sitters "cheat" and don't excactly follow the rules so having a license isn't always a sure way to know you won't have an issue.

I did my own pop-in inspections on my sitters.

There's good and bad in everything.I will grant you that in a heartbeat....just two days ago, I found out that a licensed provider not far from me got into trouble for having too many children in her care, twice her legal limit. She wasn't caught by the licensing inspector, but by the fire marshal. If the licensing inspector had caught her she would have been shut down immediately. She tried to plead that she needed a special exception because she has excessive credit card debt :rolleyes:

I'm not saying that there aren't licensed providers who are bad news, I'm not saying that there aren't some who figure out how to work the system....someone recently told me about a provider who was one child over the limit and when the inspector showed up for a surprise visit, hid one of the kids in the bathroom....

BUT as a rule, knowing that you could be reported to the authorities for something and lose your livelihood and knowing that you could be inspected at any time for any reason will keep most people operating above board. The fact that someone is operating without a license is a sure sign that they are inclined to take shortcuts. Also, ironically, it is easier for someone operating illegally to continue to do so than it is for licensed provider....

If you are a licensed provider, your neighbors know it. If you do something wrong, your neighbors will report you and you will have to answer to the licensing inspectors.
If you are an unlicensed provider, your neighbors know it and either a) won't report you because you are watching their kids, or b) will report you and when the licensing inspector shows up at your home, you can lie through your teeth and tell them either that there are not kids there and refused to admit the inspector because they aren't the police and they don't have a warrant (licensed providers who refuse admittance get an instant suspension) or else, the unlicensed provider claims all these kids are her cousins and the kids' parents will write a letter swearing to it or else get their kid tossed out.

Why would you want to take your child to someone who disregards this law...how many other laws will they disregard and how many other shortcuts will they take with your child's care. Of course, having a license is not a full proof protection for your child. I never said that. A diligent parent needs to check out their caregiver. Check references, show up really early one day and "forget" to mention you were off work early....(as a provider, I only ask that you take your child home with you after that surprise visit because they are going to have a royal meltdown if you try to leave without them)

But I will challenge all the diligent parents out there to ask, "are you licensed?" and if no, "why not?" Because I can't think of a single good answer to that second question.

I will grant you that in a heartbeat....just two days ago, I found out that a licensed provider not far from me got into trouble for having too many children in her care, twice her legal limit. She wasn't caught by the licensing inspector, but by the fire marshal. If the licensing inspector had caught her she would have been shut down immediately. She tried to plead that she needed a special exception because she has excessive credit card debt :rolleyes:

I'm not saying that there aren't licensed providers who are bad news, I'm not saying that there aren't some who figure out how to work the system....someone recently told me about a provider who was one child over the limit and when the inspector showed up for a surprise visit, hid one of the kids in the bathroom....

BUT as a rule, knowing that you could be reported to the authorities for something and lose your livelihood and knowing that you could be inspected at any time for any reason will keep most people operating above board. The fact that someone is operating without a license is a sure sign that they are inclined to take shortcuts. Also, ironically, it is easier for someone operating illegally to continue to do so than it is for licensed provider....

If you are a licensed provider, your neighbors know it. If you do something wrong, your neighbors will report you and you will have to answer to the licensing inspectors.
If you are an unlicensed provider, your neighbors know it and either a) won't report you because you are watching their kids, or b) will report you and when the licensing inspector shows up at your home, you can lie through your teeth and tell them either that there are not kids there and refused to admit the inspector because they aren't the police and they don't have a warrant (licensed providers who refuse admittance get an instant suspension) or else, the unlicensed provider claims all these kids are her cousins and the kids' parents will write a letter swearing to it or else get their kid tossed out.

Why would you want to take your child to someone who disregards this law...how many other laws will they disregard and how many other shortcuts will they take with your child's care. Of course, having a license is not a full proof protection for your child. I never said that. A diligent parent needs to check out their caregiver. Check references, show up really early one day and "forget" to mention you were off work early....(as a provider, I only ask that you take your child home with you after that surprise visit because they are going to have a royal meltdown if you try to leave without them)

But I will challenge all the diligent parents out there to ask, "are you licensed?" and if no, "why not?" Because I can't think of a single good answer to that second question.

Well put!!